Rogue Valley News, Thursday 1/12 – Medford Mail Tribune Ending All Operations On Friday. Brine, Brew & Barrel Starts Friday!

The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and around the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com

Thursday, January 12, 2023 

Rogue Valley Weather

Medford Mail Tribune Ending All Operations On Friday

Marking the end of an era, Medford’s longstanding local newspaper says it is ending all operations this week.  The Mail Tribune says its last edition will occur this Friday, the 13th of January, 2023.

The Mail Tribune scaled back its printed newspapers in the past few years, reducing its size and its number of printed editions.  The paper stopped producing a print edition in September but lived on in a digital format.  The Tribune started in 1906 and merged with the Metro Mail in 1909 to form the Mail Tribune.

Those moves precede Wednesday’s announcement, as follows from its website this afternoon:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that as of Jan. 13, 2023, the Mail Tribune will cease all operations.

This was a difficult business decision; the shuttering of this institution is a real loss for all constituents in Southern Oregon.

Unfortunately, industry-wide reductions, and in some cases complete elimination of national advertising spends for newspapers (digital or printed editions), coupled with rising costs of content and the difficulty of hiring staff and managers have made continuing the Mail Tribune unsustainable.

The last published issue will be Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. Refunds due for unused portions of paid subscriptions will be issued within 60 days. We will be reaching out to our advertisers and vendors within the next couple of weeks.

Sincerely,

Steven Saslow

CEO | Publisher”

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Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites Hosts Brine, Brew & Barrel – Starts Friday!

Oregon fermentation festival to celebrate everything from pickles and krauts to cider, cheese and beer on January 13-15, 2023

Neuman Hotel Group has announced it will host the Brine, Brew & Barrel fermentation festival at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites this weekend, Friday through Sunday, January 13-15, 2023.

The festival celebrates the multi-cultural culinary tradition of fermented products including pickles, krauts, kombucha, beer, wine, cider, mead, chocolate, cheese, coffee, sourdough, and everything in between. The event marks the return of this popular festival, which hasn’t taken place in-person since January 2020, due to the global pandemic. 

Brine, Brew & Barrel offers an epic culinary journey around different fermentation styles and techniques, with plenty of opportunity to explore new and familiar flavors. Visitors will enjoy an all-day vendors exposition, workshops and demonstrations, activities for the whole family, and other fermentation focused events. 

“We are thrilled to be hosting Brine, Brew & Barrel in-person in 2023, which will bring festival goers, foodies and families together to explore all of the culinary delights that fermentation has to offer,” said Karolina Lavagnino, spokesperson for Neuman Hotel Group and festival coordinator. “We’re looking forward to hosting the beer and kombucha breweries, cideries, cheesemakers, hot sauce producers, bakers, chefs and other artisans to Ashland for a fun weekend of demos, workshops, tastings and other festivities.”

Brine, Brew & Barrel festivities will kick off Friday night, January 13, at the historic Ashland Springs Hotel with BrewBash, a 3-course dinner showcasing Rogue Ales beautifully paired with a special menu crafted by Larks Home Kitchen Executive Chef, Franco Console. 

On Saturday, the main festival held at Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites will offer a vendor tasting event as well as hands-on workshops, demos and talks with fermentation experts including Alex Lewin and Kirsten Shockey. Fermentation festivities will end with a Hot Sauce and Bloody Mary Brunch on Sunday, January 15. 

Expo passes are available for $20 for Saturday, January 14. Children 12 and under attend for free. For tickets and more information, visit http://www.oregonfermentationfest.com/tickets/ 

Visitors have the option of booking two different accommodation packages available at Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites (festival venue): the Overnight Festival Package or the Ultimate Brine, Brew & Barrel Package. Starting rate for hotel packages varies on the reservation date and room type availability. Additional details can be found online at: http://www.oregonfermentationfest.com/package/ 

ODF Southwest Oregon District Now Hiring For Fire Season

The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District is now hiring for the 2023 fire season.

Public Information Officer Natalie Weber said that includes entry-level and experienced firefighters, dispatchers and detection specialists. Weber said that will total approximately 130 jobs in Josephine and Jackson counties. These seasonal positions generally span from June through October, but may vary depending on conditions.

A release said both the Grants Pass and the Medford offices are actively hiring. Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage and paid holidays, as well as personal business, vacation and sick leave.

Weber said the deadline to apply for all positions is June 30th. However, interviews will take place from March on, so applying early is highly encouraged.

Complete job information is linked: https://swofire.com/jobs/

Have You Seen Richard Doffing?

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Late in the morning of January 11, 2023, 73-year-old Richard Doffing drove away from his home in Glendale, Oregon. Richard is driving a white 1992 Ford F350 bearing Oregon license plate SXD561. The pickup has the “Tri-R” logo on both back doors. Richard has advanced dementia and is considered an endangered missing person. It is believed he may be trying to travel to Texas.

Richard is 5’10”, 160 lbs with Hazel eyes and gray hair. He was last seen wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans. 

Deputies along with Search and Rescue crews are actively searching for Richard or his vehicle. There is no current indication as to his direction of travel or possible route. Additionally, Richard does not have a cellular telephone with him. If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of this individual, please contact 9-1-1 and reference Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Case #23-0144.

Limited Time To Apply For Business Funding Grants To Assist Small Businesses Affected By COVID-19

Business Oregon has partnered with the CCD Business Development Corporation to offer $3 million in CDBG-CV Statewide Small Business and Microenterprise Grant Assistance (SBMA).

The program is funded with federal grant funds from the Oregon Community Development Block Grant program CARES Act funding for communities affected by COVID-19.

SBMA grants will be awarded between $2,500 – $30,000 per business. Microenterprises whose owner meets who meet low- and moderate-income (LMI) criteria can qualify for up to $10,000 in grant funding. Small businesses can qualify for $2,500 per LMI employee retained up to $30,000 in funding.

Eligibility Requirements: A microenterprise (five or fewer employees) or small business (more than five employees) that:

  • Was in business prior to March 8, 2019
  • Can document COVID-19 impact (lost revenue, mandated closures, workforce issues, supply complications, etc.)
  • Was generally stable/strong prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Has an owner and/or employees who meet low- and moderate-income (LMI) criteria

Limited time — The program will launch 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, and will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Applications for this grant program will be processed on a lottery basis.

At the time of application closure, all submitted applications will be randomized and processed. To register and apply, visit www.ccdbusiness.org/oregonsbma.

Technical assistance is available to assist with completing the application process. You may use Google Translate on the application registration and program webpages for non-English languages or please contact CCD Business Development Corporation at 1-888-263-0971 or oregonsbma@ccdbusiness.com for additional assistance.

Video tutorials for both small business and microenterprise applications, including helpful tips, are also available. The link to the YouTube playlist for the video tutorials can be found at on the CCD’s website.

Business Oregon, in partnership with CCD Business Development Corporation, will be hosting two virtual Q&A meetings about this grant opportunity on Friday, January 13 at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Register for the virtual Q&A meetings using this online form.

The SBMA grant award selections are expected in February 2023 and the funding is expected to be distributed to selected grantees in March 2023.

For more information, visit https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/SBMA/Pages/default.aspx

Hwy 101 Landslide Update

An active landslide south of Port Orford that had a sudden 12-foot drop Monday has slowed, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The slide forced the shutdown of several miles of Highway 101 north and south of the slide early Monday.

Matt Noble, communications manager for ODOT, says a contractor is on the scene with staging equipment and materials for building a temporary lane through the collapsed area.

However, Noble says a forecast of steady rain over the coming days could destabilize the slope further, potentially causing the slide to shift again.

ODOT has implemented new drainage features near the slide to drain the anticipated rain water. Noble says it’s unclear how these features will impact the road.

ODOT does not have a timeline for when the road will reopen. http://tripcheck.com

Oregon Set To Receive $400M-$1B In Federal Grants To Increase Broadband Access

Oregon’s Broadband Office is prepared to use federal money to get everyone in the state online. The money is coming from a federal infrastructure bill that was passed in 2021.

According to an audit released by Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, the Oregon Broadband Office will likely be prepared to receive and facilitate upcoming federal infrastructure grant awards.

Fagan says disadvantaged communities should be prioritized, as Oregon stands to get anywhere from $400 million to $1 billion over the next several years to ramp up broadband access.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make sure that all Oregonians are able to get online. It’s an opportunity to close gaps that have developed in our state where some communities have access, and others do not,” she said.

Oregon State Pinball Championship Returns to Eugene on January 21st

The Oregon State Pinball Championship returns to Eugene on January 21st. The state’s top 24 pinball players will meet at Blairally Vintage Arcade, competing for $5000 in prize money and a spot at the North American Championship.

This year, a record-breaking eight competitors from Eugene’s Emerald City Pinball League have qualified.

Competitor Sunni Williams said Eugene players have improved through a unique culture of mentorship, as veteran players openly share their strategies with newcomers. Five of the eight Eugene-based players who qualified are doing so for the first time.

Now, they will face top Portland players, including Colin Urban, the reigning North American champion. But Williams said Eugene players have an advantage: they are familiar with the machines being played.

“Blairally is a vintage arcade. So some of the games that are here, there are no other games like that in the state.”

The Oregon State Pinball Championship will be open to spectators all day Saturday, and organizers will run a concurrent tournament that anyone can enter. The following day, Blairally will host the state Women’s Pinball Championship, with Williams as the first seed. MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/blairallyarcade

https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx
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